Real time asset optimization

• US 20030130755A1
• Filed: 12/26/2001
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Service Company Limited (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB Service Company Limited (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Schulz, Thoralf, Lorito, Fabrizio, Wuttig, Hartmut, Bazzocchi, Renzo
• Granted Patent: US 6,999,829 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 Management or planning

Abstract

A technique to optimize both the production schedule and the maintenance of plant assets based on predetermined criteria which may be economic or otherwise. In one embodiment the technique receives at least one maintenance trigger (MT) and one production order and evaluates those inputs to propose one or more solutions for the joint scheduling of the asset maintenance and required plant production. In another embodiment a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) acquires a new MT and proposes a new maintenance schedule. The technique transmits a blocking order to a production scheduling (PS) system for converting the maintenance request into a production schedule. In another embodiment, a CMMS acquires a new MT and asks for confirmation of a time slot to perform the maintenance action. The technique evaluates the priorities and finds based on the predetermined criteria the right time slot and communicates a request for that slot to the PS.

Claims

1. A method for optimizing the maintenance of assets and production comprising the steps of:

a) receiving at least one maintenance trigger indicative that a maintenance action is or may be required for at least one of said assets;

b) receiving at least one order for production of a certain quantity of a certain product; and

c) using a predetermined criteria to evaluate said at least one received maintenance trigger and said production order to propose therefrom one or more solutions for jointly scheduling said maintenance action and said at least one production order.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of transmitting said proposed one or more solutions to a system for scheduling the maintenance of said at least one of said assets and to a system for scheduling production for said certain quantity of said certain product.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said maintenance scheduling system is a computerized maintenance management system.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said at least one maintenance trigger is received from said maintenance scheduling system.

5. A method for optimizing the maintenance of assets and production comprising the steps of:

a) acquiring at least one maintenance trigger indicative that a maintenance action is or may be required for at least one of said assets;

b) defining a maintenance schedule for said maintenance action; and

c) transmitting in response to said defined maintenance schedule a blocking order requesting a time to perform said maintenance action to a system that schedules said production.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said production scheduling system produces a production schedule and said method further comprises the step of said production scheduling system determining the possibility of fitting said blocking order time for performance request into said production schedule.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said at least one maintenance trigger is acquired either by being received at or generated by a computerized maintenance management system and said method further comprises the step of said production scheduling system transmitting a confirmation to said computerized maintenance management system when said production scheduling system accepts said blocking order.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said at least one maintenance trigger is acquired either by being received at or generated by a computerized maintenance management system and said method further comprises the step of said production scheduling system transmitting to said computerized maintenance management system a new time for performance of said maintenance action when said production scheduling system cannot accept said blocking order.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of said computerized maintenance management system considers the feasibility of said new time for performance of said maintenance action transmitted by said production scheduling system.

10. A method for optimizing the maintenance of assets and production comprising the steps of:

a) acquiring at least one maintenance trigger indicative that a maintenance action is or may be required for at least one of said assets;

b) requesting in response to said at least one maintenance trigger a time to perform said maintenance action; and

c) determining by use of a predetermined criteria related to said production and in response to said request for said time to perform said maintenance action a time for performance of said maintenance action.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of transmitting a request for said determined time to a system that schedules said production.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of said production scheduling system determining the availability of said requested determined time.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said at least one maintenance trigger is acquired by being received at or generated by a computerized maintenance management system and said step of determining said time for performance of said maintenance action is performed in other than said production scheduling system and said computerized maintenance management system.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said step of determining said time for performance of said maintenance action is performed by a means for optimizing assets to a predetermined level.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said means is an asset optimization system.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein said step of determining said time for performance of said maintenance action is performed by an asset optimization system and said method.

17. A system for optimizing the maintenance of assets and production comprising:

a) a system for scheduling the maintenance of at least one of said assets;

b) a system for scheduling production of at least a certain quantity of a certain product; and

c) means using a predetermined criteria for evaluating at least one maintenance trigger indicative that a maintenance action is or may be required for at least one of said assets and at least one order for production of at least a certain quantity of said certain product and proposing to said maintenance scheduling system and said production scheduling system one or more solutions for jointly scheduling said maintenance action and said production order.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said maintenance scheduling system is a computerized maintenance management system.

19. A system for optimizing the maintenance of assets and production comprising the steps of:

a) a maintenance scheduling system responsive to at least one maintenance trigger indicative that a maintenance action is or may be required for at least one of said assets to define a maintenance schedule for said maintenance action; and

b) a system for scheduling production of at least a certain quantity of a certain product; and

c) means responsive to said defined maintenance schedule received from maintenance scheduling system for transmitting a blocking order requesting a time to perform said maintenance action to said production scheduling system.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said maintenance scheduling system is a computerized maintenance management system.

21. A system for optimizing the maintenance of assets and production comprising the steps of:

a) a maintenance scheduling system responsive to at least one maintenance trigger indicative that a maintenance action is or may be required for at least one of said assets to generate a request for a time to perform said maintenance action;

b) a system for scheduling production of at least a certain quantity of a certain product; and

c) means responsive to said request for said time to perform said maintenance action for determining by use of a predetermined criteria related to said production and said time to perform said maintenance action a time for performance of said maintenance action and transmitting said time for performance of said maintenance action to said production scheduling system.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein said maintenance scheduling system is a computerized maintenance management system.